ACC_20LeadingAccess and Flexibility
Patient participation and co-design of access policies
Summary
Develop and sustain engagement and co-production groups to ensure patient voices shape access policies.
Supporting information
Access policies designed without input from marginalised communities often inadvertently create barriers. Meaningful co-design with Focus Patients ensures policies work for those who most need healthcare, embodying "nothing about us without us" principles.
Approaches to implementation:
- Recruit diverse Focus Patients as equal partners in policy design
- Provide appropriate compensation and support for participation
- Use creative engagement methods beyond traditional meetings
- Ensure decision-making power, not just consultation
- Test policies with Focus Patients before implementation
- Create feedback loops to refine policies based on real experience
Key benefits: Creates access policies that genuinely work for marginalised communities, building trust through demonstrating that patient voices lead to real change.
Resources
- Co-production: what it is and how to do it
- Co-production guide (HEEC)
- NHSE co-prodiction resource toolkit
- Experienced-based co-design toolkit (point of care foundation)
- What works: Community engagement and empowerment to address health inequalities
- Co-production guide for Northern Ireland
- BMA patient and public involvement - a tool kit for GPs
- Trauma informed co-production
- NHS Tameside and Glossop co-production guide and toolkit
Links open on other organisations' websites.